Student Sports FAB 50 National Football Rankings

What happens when you lose a memorable state title game by 59-56? For Male High of Louisville, it means you still get to move up in the national rankings. Newcomers to this week's top 50 include three from Florida -- Edgewater, Palm Bay and Jefferson -- plus a Massachusetts squad that benefitted from a 97-yard interception return to win a big game.

STUDENT SPORTS FAB 50 NATIONAL FOOTBALL RANKINGS

(Last week's ranking in parentheses)

1. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) 13-0 (1)
Although the Spartan secondary this year is perhaps the best any school in California has ever had, it was a defensive lineman who scored on 24-yard interception return to seal De La Salle's 42-14 win over San Leandro in the CIF North Coast Section Class 4A final last Saturday at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland. Kyle Balough's touchdown made it 35-0 for the Spartans just before halftime. The rest of the secondary also contributed to the onslaught as Maurice Drew, Damon Jenkins and Willie Glasper all had interceptions, too. On offense, Drew capped a marvelous prep career with 12 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns. De La Salle won its 11th straight section title and will be No. 1 in the nation for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Also closing their senior seasons on top were QB Britt Cecil, OL/DL Erik Sandie, OL/DL John Chan and WR DeMontae Fitzgerald. De La Salle will take a 138-game winning streak into next season and has won 172 of last 173.

2. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.) 13-0 (2)
The Panthers extended their win streak to 43 games, one shy of the state record, with a 21-19 state Class 5A quarterfinal win over Northside-Warner Robins in a rematch of last year's finals. Joey Sturdivant intercepted two passes and recovered an onside kick with 39 seconds left to preserve the win. Parkview plays East Coweta in the semifinals while seeking their third straight state championship.

3. Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) 15-0 (3)
Quarterback Chris Leak completed 18 of 34 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns as the Patriots scored a repeat season win over Charlotte Butler, 29-0, in the state Class 4A semifinals. It was the Patriots' 45th straight win, a state coaching record for Tom Knotts, who will be in his seventh state final with three schools in 15 years. The Patriots face unbeaten New Bern Saturday in the finals.

4. Union (Tulsa, Okla.) 14-0 (4)
Coach Bill Blankenship can finally celebrate a state championship instead of being on the losing end. His Redskins demolished state No. 5 Broken Arrow, 52-3, to win a Class 6A state title in Blankenship's sixth trip to the finals. Union had advanced to the finals four times in eight years, but lost each one -- until now. RB Spencer McIllwain rushed for 219 yards and four touchdowns and caught a TD. Billy Lewis picked off three of Mick Majors' four interceptions for a defense that forced five turnovers. The Redskins released their pent up frustration on four playoff foes by an average score of 54-18.

5. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) 15-0 (5)
In what will surely go down as one of the greatest games in the history of prep football anywhere, the Shamrocks outscored Louisville Male, 59-56, for their second straight Class 4A state title. The two teams have met in the state finals three straight years, but this one was the climax to the rivalry. QBs Brian Brohm of Trinity and Michael Bush of Male put on a show for the ages. Brohm completed 19-of-25 passes for a state-final record and career-best 552 yards and seven TDs, while also rushing nine times for 52 yards and a score. Bush, the state's Mr. Football, completed 33-of-47 passes for 468 yards and six TDs and rushed 24 times for 116 yards and a TD, but it was an interception he threw on his final series that decided the game.
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